CN111756552B - Electric energy supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical energy supply device (1) for supplying electrical energy to an electrical component from an energy source, wherein the energy supply device has at least one communication unit (3), the energy supply device is configured for data communication with an external computer device (8) via the communication unit, wherein the energy supply device has a terminal (9) for outputting electrical energy for supplying the electrical component with energy, wherein the energy supply device has at least one controllable digital or analog output terminal (4) and/or at least one digital or analog input terminal (5) as further terminal, wherein the digital or analog output terminal can be controlled by the external computer device (8) via the communication unit in the case of the controllable digital or analog output terminal (4), and wherein an input value can be read from the input terminal by the external computer device via the communication unit in the case of the digital or analog input terminal (5).

Description

Electric energy supply device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electronic device. The electronic device can be, for example, an electrical energy supply device and/or an electronic protection switch for supplying electrical energy to electrical components from an energy source. The present invention particularly relates to the field of electronic devices for industrial devices, particularly for industrial controllers such as programmable memory controllers. The present invention also relates to a communication unit of an electronic device and a combination (sort) having a plurality of communication modules.

Background technique

The energy supply device is used to provide electrical energy at a specific voltage level, such as 12 volts or 24 volts, and a specific voltage type, such as a direct voltage, wherein the energy supply device provides the electrical energy supply, for example, from a power supply network, such as an alternating voltage network. For this purpose, the electronic device has corresponding components for converting and/or rectifying the electrical energy provided by the power supply network, for example in the form of a clock-controlled converter circuit when it is a switching network device; and/or has at least one transformer.

Summary of the invention

In the field of industrial power supply devices, high requirements are placed on the reliability and functionality of such electronic devices. The object underlying the present invention is to provide a further improved electronic device.

To achieve the object, the electronic device can have control electronics with at least one program memory with a computer program stored therein and a computer for executing the computer program. The computer program has software control functions for controlling functions of the electronic device, such as a power supply function. In this way, an electronic device with multiple functions can be realized, each of which can be realized in software. The electronic device thus also has update capability, that is, further developed computer programs can be stored without changing the hardware.

The electronic device may have a parameter memory in which parameters for defining the functionality of the electronic device may be stored. Through such parameters, specific details of the functionality of the electronic device may be set by the user as required and adapted to the respective application.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electronic device has at least one communication unit coupled to the control electronics, and the electronic device is configured to communicate data with an external computer device via the communication unit. In this way, data exchange between the external computer device and the electronic device is possible, for example in order to read out operating data of the electronic device or to set and/or control specific functions of the electronic device via the external computer device. Furthermore, if the electronic device has a parameter memory, variable parameters can be stored in the electronic device.

The external computer device can be any computer, for example a laptop or a PC (personal computer). The external computer device can also be a control device of a programmable control device or another device of such a programmable control device. The external computer device can be a device connected to a data bus. For this purpose, the electronic device can be coupled to the data bus via a communication unit.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the communication unit is configured as a replaceable communication module, wherein the communication module has a gateway functionality, through which a bidirectional conversion is performed between an external communication protocol and/or physical layer used by an external computer device and an internal communication protocol and/or physical layer used between the communication module and the computer, wherein the communication module either supports exactly one external communication protocol or supports multiple external communication protocols. Therefore, for the computer of the electronic device, the communication module works with an internal communication protocol and/or physical layer, and for the external computer device, the communication module works with an external communication protocol and/or physical layer. Through the gateway functionality, the communication module can not only convert from an external communication protocol to an internal communication protocol, but also vice versa from an internal communication protocol to an external communication protocol. The same situation applies to the conversion between the internal physical layer and the external physical layer. Here, the bit transmission layer in the OSI layer model is understood as the physical layer.

This has the advantage that the communication module and thus its gateway functionality and in particular the supported external communication protocols and/or physical layers can be easily replaced by removing the communication module from the electronic device and connecting another communication module to the electronic device. In this way, the electronic device can be adapted to different external communication protocols and/or physical layers without great effort. The internal communication protocol can be, for example, any fieldbus communication protocol, such as Modbus-RTU.

Another advantage of this modular communication concept is that the same communication module can be used first for a specific electronic device and later for another electronic device or other device. The costs associated with the communication interface are accordingly not related to the electronic device or other device, but to the communication module.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the external communication protocol is a bus protocol or a P2P protocol, which supports data communication of multiple external computer devices connected to a common data bus. This has the following advantages: the electronic device can be bus-capable through the communication module. The external communication protocol can be, for example, any fieldbus communication protocol, such as IO-Link, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, Interbus, SafetyBusP, Profibus, Sercos, Modbus-RTU, etc.

The communication module can be configured to perform periodic communication and/or aperiodic communication with the computer of the electronic device.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the communication module is configured to read out a flag indicating the device type of the electronic device from the control electronics of the electronic device via an internal communication protocol and transmit it to an external computer device via an external communication protocol. This has the following advantages: the electronic device can always be identified as such an electronic device, especially in a data transmission environment with multiple communication users, for example, when the communication module is connected to a data bus, regardless of the internal and external communication protocols used. In this way, the electronic device can be identified as such an electronic device by other data transmission users, regardless of the communication module respectively plugged in.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the communication module is configured to convert the instructions for block parameterization of the control electronic component received by the external computer device via the external communication protocol into the internal communication protocol, so that the control electronic component, in particular the parameter memory of the control electronic component, can be described by multiple parameters with the help of the instructions for block parameterization. In this way, new parameter groups can be activated in a collective manner. This has the following advantages: even when the electronic device uses an internal communication protocol that does not recognize the instructions for block parameterization of the same effect, it can be parameterized using this block parameterization in the "block" with the help of the instructions received via the external communication protocol, that is, multiple parameters can be quickly and easily transmitted and stored in the electronic device with the help of the instructions.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the communication module is configured to convert the data storage instruction received by the external computer device into the selected function of the internal communication protocol in multiple steps via the external communication protocol, wherein the parameter data of the control electronic component is read out by the communication module and transmitted to the external computer device and/or the parameter data is written into the control electronic component by the external computer device via the communication module. In this way, even when the internal communication protocol does not recognize such instructions with the same effect, the electronic device can be suitably used for the data storage instruction received externally. Then, the received data storage instruction is converted into the existing selected function of the internal communication protocol by the communication module, which can also be carried out in multiple steps, that is, by a plurality of functions of the internal communication protocol that are executed step by step in succession. Through the data storage instruction, the current parameter group of the control electronic component of the electronic device can be read out and transmitted to the external computer device, and then the parameter group can be stored there. Then, the re-parameterization of the electronic device can be carried out, for example, in the following manner: the new parameter group is transmitted to the control electronic component by means of the instruction of the block parameterization. Through the data storage instruction, the backup functionality of the parameter group of the electronic device can be realized in particular via the communication module.

According to an advantageous design of the invention, the communication module has or allows password protection, so that an external computer device that communicates with the electronic device via the communication module must perform a password authentication at least when accessing specific functions of the control electronics. In this way, an increased security against misoperation and in particular manipulation of the electronic device is provided. The increased security is achieved in the communication module by password protection, by which at least any unauthorized access to specific functions of the control electronics is prohibited. Before the communication module enables access to specific functions of the control electronics, the external computer device must first perform a password authentication, that is, transmit the correct password to the communication module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device is designed as an electrical energy supply device for supplying electrical components with electrical energy from an energy source and/or as an electronic circuit breaker.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrical energy supply device is designed as a network device, for example as a network device of an industrial controller, in particular a network device of a programmable logic controller, as a switching network device and/or as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the electronic device is configured as an electric energy supply device for supplying electric energy to the electric component from an energy source and/or as an electronic protection switch. The electric energy supply device can be configured as a network device, for example, a network device of an industrial controller, in particular a network device of a programmable memory controller, a switching network device and/or an uninterruptible current supply device (USV). This has the following advantages: the electronic device can be implemented in various variants. Here, the same modular communication scheme with replaceable communication modules can be used respectively. In other words, the communication module can be used independently of the implementation method of the electronic device. In this regard, the mark indicating the device type of the electronic device that can be read from the control electronic component of the electronic device can be distinguished between the electronic device of the industrial controller, the switching network device and/or the uninterruptible current supply device.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the communication module can be plugged onto the housing of the electronic device from the outside by means of an electrical plug connection. This allows simple replacement of the communication module without tools and simple installation of the communication module. The communication module can, for example, have a latching element by means of which the communication module is latched to the housing of the electronic device and is fixed thereto in this manner.

The communication module can have its own control computer, which executes a computer program stored in the communication module. In this way, an efficient conversion between an external communication protocol and an internal communication protocol can be carried out, in particular if this requires a certain amount of computing effort and/or storage requirements. The communication module can also be designed without its own control computer, which is advantageous, for example, if the external communication protocol is identical to the internal communication protocol or differs only slightly therefrom. For example, the communication module can in this case have only hardware matching circuits, for example for matching the voltage levels of the physical layer.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electronic device has a hardware identification circuit, by means of which the control electronics can identify whether the electronic device is connected to a communication module with its own control computer or a communication module without its own control computer. This has the following advantages: the electronic device can automatically determine with low effort what type of communication module is connected to the electronic device. Correspondingly, the electronic device can automatically adapt its communication functions to the respectively connected communication module. In the case of a communication module without its own control computer, the computer of the electronic device can assume specific control functions of the communication module, for example, manipulating the control input of the communication module to set the data transmission direction.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the electronic device is configured to replace the communication module during continuous operation (hot swap). This further improves the flexibility of the electronic device to adapt to different requirements. Here, the electronic device can be configured to adapt the automatically changed interface parameters of the communication interface of the electronic device to the communication module after the communication module is replaced. The matching of the communication parameters can also be requested by the newly inserted communication module.

The objects mentioned at the outset are also achieved by a communication unit of an electronic device of the type mentioned above. Here, the communication unit is designed as a replaceable communication module, wherein the communication module has a gateway functionality, by means of which a bidirectional conversion is performed between an external communication protocol and/or a physical layer used by an external computer device and an internal communication protocol and/or a physical layer used between the communication module and the computer, wherein the communication module supports either exactly one external communication protocol or a plurality of external communication protocols. This also enables the advantages mentioned above to be achieved.

The invention also relates to an assembly having a plurality of communication modules of the type described above, wherein the communication modules of the assembly each have the same internal communication protocol and/or physical layer, but have different external communication protocols and/or physical layers. With this assembly, an electronic device having the possibility of replacing communication modules can be adapted to different external communication protocols and/or physical layers as required.

The assembly can be supplemented with a communication module which has the same communication protocol and/or physical layer as the internal communication protocol and/or physical layer as the external communication protocol and/or physical layer. The communication module can be designed, for example, without its own control computer.

If, for example, the IO-Link protocol is used as the external communication protocol, the communication module can be configured to perform the following functions:

Start phase : Parameterization and initialization of the IO-Link communication (identification block) using the data read out from the electronics.

Process data : Cyclic Modbus query, synchronously with IO-Link query or asynchronously with IO-Link query.

Parameter data : conversion from IO-Link to Modbus and back by transforming from IO-Link index to Modbus address with constant offset, mapping from Modbus error report to IO-Link error report, forwarding events to IO-Link master.

Block parameterization – BP:

If the communication module has obtained the IO-Link BP start command, the communication module puts the electronic device into the BP state.

The electronic device does not directly accept the written parameter values in the activated configuration, but rather temporarily stores them.

If a BP stop command is issued and there is no write query error during BP, the written parameter value becomes active.

The BP result is sent to the IO-Link master.

Data Storage - DS

The communication module reads out the index (fixed defined address) from the electronic device in response to a query by the IO-Link master and organizes a DS_index table, which is provided to the IO-Link master.

If a parameter set is written, the communication module puts the electronic device into BP state (the electronic device processes queries such as block parameterization).

If reading a parameter group, it is processed like a normal read query.

A CRC of the parameter set from the electronic device is provided.

The electronic device has a terminal for outputting electrical energy to supply energy to an electrical component (consumer). The terminal can also be referred to as a current supply output terminal of the electronic device. According to an advantageous design, the electronic device has at least one controllable digital or analog output terminal and/or at least one digital or analog input terminal as a further terminal. In the case of a controllable digital or analog output terminal, the controllable digital or analog output terminal can be controlled by an external computer device via a communication unit. In the case of a digital or analog input terminal, an input value can be read out by an external computer device from the input terminal via a communication unit. This has the advantage that at least one simple remote I/O functionality can also be provided via the electronic device in addition. The digital or analog output terminal is correspondingly an output of such a remote I/O unit, and the digital or analog input terminal is an input of the remote I/O unit. Correspondingly, at least simple control and monitoring tasks can be performed by means of the electronic device, so that in many cases no additional I/O modules are required in the device. In this case, already existing I/O connections of the electronic device, which are already present anyway, for example for specific standard functions such as displaying a correct voltage level ("DC-OK"), can be used to implement digital or analog input terminals and/or digital or analog output terminals. Accordingly, the hardware expenditure required for the electronic device does not increase when providing the aforementioned remote I/O functionality.

The remote I/O functionality enables the electronic device to be used as a digital external station, which can be used, for example, for status or function monitoring by means of data communication. The remote I/O functionality can be implemented by pure software expansion, that is to say by corresponding code of a computer program. Therefore, no additional hardware is required.

If the digital or analog input terminal is designed as a digital input terminal, only binary input values (0 and 1) are provided. If the digital or analog input terminal is designed as an analog input terminal, input values with a specific value range, for example with 8 bits (0 to 255) or 12 bits (0 to 4095) are provided depending on the resolution of the analog-to-digital converter used.

If the digital or analog output terminals are designed as digital output terminals, only binary output values (0 and 1) can be set. If the digital or analog output terminals are designed as analog output terminals, output values with a specific value range, for example with 8 bits (0 to 255) or 12 bits (0 to 4095), are provided depending on the digital-to-analog converter used.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electronic device has exactly one controllable digital or analog output terminal. This minimizes the expenditure on remote I/O functionality, mainly because a separate controllable digital or analog output terminal is usually required in such electronic devices anyway.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electronic device has exactly one digital or analog input terminal. This minimizes the complexity of the remote I/O functionality, since such electronic devices usually require a separate controllable digital or analog input terminal anyway.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the electronic device has a parameter memory, in which parameters for defining the functionality of the electronic device can be stored, wherein the functionality of the digital or analog input terminal and/or the functionality of the controllable digital or analog output terminal can be set by at least one parameter. This has the following advantages: the functionality of the digital or analog input terminal or the digital or analog output terminal can be selected by the user and set accordingly. As a result, the flexibility of the use of the electronic device is further improved. The functionality of the digital or analog input terminal can be switched between two different functions or a larger number of different functions, for example. The functionality of the digital or analog output terminal can be switched between two functions or a larger number of functions, for example.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the functionality of a digital or analog input terminal can be set at least to a fixed preset standard input function by means of at least one parameter, and/or the functionality of a controllable digital or analog output terminal can be set at least to a fixed preset standard output function by means of at least one parameter. This simplifies the selection of the functionality of a digital or analog input terminal or a digital or analog output terminal for the user.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the standard output function is to output a signal to a controllable digital or analog output terminal, which signal indicates whether the voltage output by the electronic device to the terminal for outputting electrical energy is within an allowable range. Correspondingly, the digital or analog output terminal can be set to a standard function as a "DC-OK" terminal.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the standard input function is to switch on/off the electronic device or the energy output to the terminal for outputting electrical energy in a remotely controllable manner via the digital or analog input terminal. Correspondingly, the digital or analog input terminal can be used as a remote control terminal for the electronic device in the standard function.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electronic device has at least one electronic overcurrent protection switch implemented in software by means of a computer program. Advantageously, the electronic device can therefore be expanded with an overcurrent protection switch functionality implemented at least substantially in software. Therefore, the electronic device and at least a single-channel electronic protection switch functionality are integrated in one device. This has the following advantages: Under normal circumstances, an external overcurrent protection switch (circuit breaker (circuit breaker)) can be discarded. As a result, the user can save costs and construction space. In addition, flexibility is increased for the user. In addition, external wiring is simplified, because no additional wiring expenditure for an external overcurrent protection switch is required.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electronic overcurrent protection switch is implemented solely by a computer program without supplementary hardware components. Thus, the hardware that is already available in the electronic device is used to implement the functionality of the electronic overcurrent protection switch. Thus, the protection switch software can only use the following hardware, which is also used by the software itself for controlling the electronic device or in particular the energy supply device in order to have full functional capabilities.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the electronic overcurrent protection switch includes a function for shutting off the output current output by the electronic device and/or a function for limiting the output current output by the electronic device to a predetermined current value. Here, shutting off can include permanently shutting off the output current or temporarily (shortly) shutting off the output current. The same applies to limiting the output current, which can optionally be permanent or temporary. The function of the electronic overcurrent protection switch can also include switching between shutting off the output current and limiting the output current.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the output current output by the electronic device is switched off or limited by controlling the electronic device on the primary side. For example, a main converter, such as a transformer, can be directly controlled on the primary side. This allows a simple implementation of the functionality of the electronic overcurrent protection switch. Thus, the energy supply and thus the output of the output current can be stopped, or the output current can be set smaller by no longer actively controlling the actual main converter of the electronic device on the primary side.

To implement the electronic overcurrent protection switch functionality, the electronics have a current measuring device in the output branch. The current measuring device can be used to determine whether the output current is too high and, accordingly, whether the electronic overcurrent protection switch must react in order to shut down or limit the output current.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the electronic overcurrent protection switch has a function of monitoring the output current output by the electronic device in terms of exceeding the boundary current value, wherein when the boundary current value is exceeded, the output current is turned off or the output current is limited to a predetermined current value, such as the boundary current value. Here, the output current outputted can be determined via the mentioned current measuring device. The computer can compare whether the measured output current exceeds the boundary current value. Correspondingly, the computer can take corresponding countermeasures, such as turning off the output current or limiting the output current.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, it is proposed that the output current is not switched off or limited until after a predetermined triggering time, during which the output current continuously or for most of the time exceeds the limit current value. This has the following advantage: the functionality of the electronic overcurrent protection switch does not necessarily react every time the limit current value is slightly exceeded for a short period of time, but only reacts after a predetermined triggering time.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the electronic device has a parameter memory in which parameters for defining the functionality of the electronic device can be stored, wherein the electronic overcurrent protection switch can be configured according to the user's wishes via one or more parameters that can be set in the parameter memory. This has the advantage that the protection switch functionality can be adapted to the user's needs. In particular, the triggering time and/or the limit current value can be set as parameters. By means of the possibility of setting the triggering time, a "quick" and "sluggish" protection switch characteristic can be optionally set.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, parameters can be set in the parameter memory of the electronic device via the communication unit by means of an external computer device. Thus, the protection switch functionality can also be set remotely. In addition, a simple possibility of changing parameters is provided.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the reaction of the overcurrent protection switch, for example the triggering of a limitation and/or a switch-off of the output current of the output, can be signaled via a feedback light and/or via a communication interface. For this purpose, an already existing light signaling display, for example an LED, which displays the load of the electronic device in normal operation can advantageously be used. However, special states, for example the functionality of the protection switch, can also be signaled via different flash codes (outside of normal operation). The already mentioned communication unit of the electronic device can be used as a communication interface.

The electronic device can have a protocolization function in which the activation of the functionality of the electronic overcurrent protection switch is protocolized. For example, it can be protocolized when and for how long the output current is shut off and/or the output current is limited by the electronic overcurrent protection switch. The protocol file can be read out by an external computer device via the communication unit of the electronic device. This provides the user with improved diagnostic feasibility.

According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the electronic device has a housing, on which a support rail fastening element is provided, and the electronic device can be fixed to a support rail of electrical installation technology via the support rail fastening element. In this way, the electronic device, such as other components of an industrial control device, can be fixed to the support rail, for example, arranged next to other devices. The electronic device can be locked to the support rail, for example.

In the sense of the present invention, the indefinite term "one" should not be understood as a numeral. Therefore, when, for example, a component is mentioned, this should be interpreted in the sense of "at least one component". If the angle is annotated in degrees, the angle annotation relates to a circle of 360 degrees (360°). If a computer is mentioned, the computer can be configured to execute a computer program, for example, in the sense of software. The computer can be configured as a commercially available computer, for example as a PC, laptop, notebook computer, tablet computer or smartphone, or as a microprocessor, microcontroller or FPGA, or as a combination of these elements. If regulation is mentioned, the difference between regulation and control is that regulation has a feedback or feedback of a measured or internal value, with the help of which the output value generated by the regulation is influenced in the sense of a closed control loop. In control, the variable is simply controlled without such feedback or feedback.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments using the drawings.

The accompanying drawings show:

FIG1 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic device; and

FIG2 shows a schematic diagram of a communication module; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a device composed of an electronic device and a communication module.

Detailed ways

The reference numerals used in the figures have the following meanings:

1. Electronic devices

2. Shell

3. Communication unit

4. Digital or analog output terminal

5. Digital or analog input terminal

6. Computer

7. Data Bus

8. External computer devices

9. Energy supply output terminal

10. Input terminal

11. Program Memory

12. Parameter memory

13. Primary side components

14. Transformer

15. Secondary side parts

16. Control electronic components

30. Communication module

31. Plug connector

32. Internal hardware interface

33.Control Computer

34. Program Memory

35. Parameter memory

36. External hardware interface

37. Plug connector

I. Output current

U. Output voltage

R1. Resistor

R2. Resistance

FIG. 1 shows an electronic device 1 having a housing 2. In the housing 2, control electronics 16 of the electronic device 1 are arranged. In the housing 2, power electronics 13, 14, 15 are also present. The electronic device has an input terminal 10, by means of which the electronic device 1 is connected to a current supply network, for example an alternating voltage network. The electronic device 1 is used to convert electrical energy absorbed from the current supply network via the input terminal 10 into electrical energy output on the output side, which is provided at an energy supply output terminal 9. At the energy supply output terminal 9, for example, an output current I can be provided together with an output voltage U, for example a direct voltage.

The power electronic components 13, 14, 15 may include a primary side component and a secondary side component. In addition, a transformer may be present between the primary side component and the secondary side component.

The control electronics 16 has a computer 6, a program memory 11 and a parameter memory 12. The computer 6 is connected to the program memory 11 and the parameter memory 12. A computer program is stored in the program memory 11. The computer program has a software control function for controlling the current supply function of the electronic device 1, for example, a regulation function for keeping the output voltage U and/or the output current I constant. In the parameter memory 12, parameters are stored that define the functionality of the electronic device specifically by the user, for example, in order to select different options or sub-functions in the software control function. The computer 6 executes the computer program and takes into account the corresponding parameters from the parameter memory 12. In this case, the computer 6 controls the power electronics 13, 14, 15 so that the desired output current I and/or the desired output voltage U are provided at the energy supply output terminal 9.

As described above, the computer executes the electronic overcurrent protection switch functionality and/or the remote I/O functionality via the further software functions present in the computer program.

With regard to the remote I/O function, the computer 6 is connected to additional terminals of the electronic device, which include at least one controllable digital or analog output terminal 4 and at least one digital or analog input terminal 5. Via the digital or analog input terminal 5, the computer 6 can read in input signals, such as digital values or analog values. At the output terminal 4, the computer 6 can output digital or analog output signals. Here, the terminals 4, 5 do not have to be directly connected to the computer 6, but can be isolated from the computer via a suitable interface circuit.

The computer 6 is also connected to the communication unit 3. Via the communication unit 3, the computer 6 and thus the electronic device 1 can communicate data with an external computer device 8. In the embodiment shown, the computer device 8 is connected to the data bus 7. The electronic device 1 is also connected to the data bus 7 via the communication unit 3. In this way, data communication can be carried out between the electronic device 1 and the external computer device 8.

In the case of remote I/O functionality, the external computer device 8 can control the digital or analog output terminal 4 via the communication unit 3. Here, the computer 6 receives control instructions from the external computer device 8 via the communication unit 3 and actuates the digital or analog output terminal 4 according to the control instructions. The external computer device 8 can read out input values from the digital or analog input terminal 5 via the communication unit 3. Here, the computer 6 receives a read instruction from the external computer device 8 via the communication unit 3, reads in the input value from the digital or analog input terminal 5, and transmits the input value to the external computer device 8 via the communication unit 3 by means of a response message. In addition, the functionality of the digital or analog output terminal 4 and/or the digital or analog input terminal 5 can be set via parameters stored in the parameter memory 12.

The communication unit 3 shown in FIG1 can be designed as a replaceable communication module 30, as shown in FIG2 , for example. The communication module 30 has an electrical plug connection 31, by means of which the communication module 30 can be electrically connected to the electronic device 1 and in particular to the control electronics 16 of the electronic device. The communication module 30 has a further electrical plug connection 37, by means of which the communication module 30 can be connected directly or indirectly to an external computer device 8, for example via a data bus 7.

A dedicated control computer 33 may be present in the communication module 30. In this case, it is advantageous if the communication module 30 has its own program memory 34 and also its own parameter memory 35, wherein the memories are each connected to the control computer 33 so that the control computer 33 can access the memory contents.

The communication module 30 has a gateway functionality, by means of which a bidirectional conversion is performed between an external communication protocol and/or a physical layer used by the external computer device 8 and an internal communication protocol and/or a physical layer used between the communication module 30 and the computer 6. The bidirectional conversion is essentially performed and controlled by the control computer 33. For this purpose, the control computer 33 is connected on the one hand to the plug connector 31, for example via an internal hardware interface 32, and on the other hand to a further plug connector 37, for example via an external hardware interface 36. Via the internal hardware interface 32, a hardware-based signal matching can be performed between the control computer 33 and the internal physical layer used. Via the external hardware interface 36, a hardware-based signal matching can be performed between the control computer 33 and the external physical layer used.

The structure of the communication module 30 explained with reference to FIG. 2 is particularly advantageous in the case where the internal communication protocol and the external communication protocol are essentially different and the gateway functionality is complex, so that a separate control computer 33 is required. If the difference between the internal communication protocol and the external communication protocol is not so great or even the same communication protocol is used, the communication module 30 can also be designed without a separate control computer 33. In this case, the program memory 34 and the parameter memory 35 can also be omitted. Likewise, the internal hardware interface 32 can be omitted or it can be combined with the external hardware interface 36.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of such an embodiment of a communication module 30 in combination with an electronic device 1. In this case, the communication module 30 is designed without its own control computer. Basically, the communication module 30 then only has an external hardware interface 36. Depending on the embodiment, it may be that certain control functions of the external hardware interface 36 must therefore be performed in a processor-controlled manner, which is not possible there due to the lack of a dedicated control computer in the communication module 30. In this regard, an advantageous embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 3 in which the external hardware interface 36 can be controlled in a processor-controlled manner via the computer 6 of the electronic device 1.

The interface connection between the computer 6 and the external hardware interface 36 is shown, which can be designed, for example, in the form of a serial interface with a transmission line _TX and a reception line _RX . Also shown are the power supply lines _VCC (operating voltage for the hardware interface 36) and GND (ground line). Also shown are the I/O ports of the computer 6, which can be operated both as output terminals and as input terminals. If the I/O ports are operated as output terminals, the computer 6 can thereby control the control terminals of the external hardware interface 36, for example in order to set the data transmission direction: transmission/reception. If the I/O ports are operated as input terminals, digital or analog signals can be read in from them.

3 shows a hardware identification circuit, by means of which the control electronics 16 or the computer 6 can identify whether a communication module 30 with its own control computer 33 or a communication module 30 without its own control computer 33 is connected to the electronic device 1. The computer 6 can thereby automatically determine whether the computer must or does not have to perform a control function via output signals from an I/O port.

In this case, the hardware identification circuit has a resistor R2 installed in the electronic device 1, which establishes a connection between V _CC and the I/O port (Pull-Up resistor). In the communication module 30, there is another resistor R1, which establishes a connection between GND and the I/O port (Pull-Down resistor). The computer 6 can recognize that the communication module 30 without its own control computer is connected based on the voltage level formed based on the resistance relationship R1/R2 read in via the I/O port. The corresponding communication module 30 with its own control computer is configured not to have such a resistor R1, so that another voltage level is formed at the I/O port, which the computer 6 can also recognize.

Claims (12)

1. An electrical energy supply device (1) for supplying electrical energy to an electrical component from an energy source, wherein the energy supply device (1) has at least one communication unit (3), through which the energy supply device (1) is configured for data communication with an external computer device (8), wherein the energy supply device (1) has a terminal (9) for outputting electrical energy for supplying energy to the electrical component, characterized in that the energy supply device (1) has a remote I/O unit through which remote I/O functionality is provided, whereby the electrical energy supply device (1) can be used as a digital external station, wherein the energy supply device (1) has at least one controllable digital or analog output terminal (4) as an output of such a remote I/O unit and/or at least one digital or analog input terminal (5) as an input of such a remote I/O unit, as a further connection terminal, wherein in the case of a controllable digital or analog output terminal (4) the digital or analog output terminal (3) can be used as an analog output terminal (8) via a digital computer device or an analog terminal (8) of such a remote I/O unit, the input value can be read out from the digital or analog input terminal by an external computer device (8) via the communication unit (3).

2. The energy supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy supply device (1) has exactly one controllable digital or analog output terminal (4).

3. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy supply device (1) has exactly one digital or analog input terminal (5).

4. Energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy supply device (1) has a parameter memory (12) in which parameters for defining the functionality of the energy supply device (1) can be stored, wherein by means of at least one parameter the functionality of the digital or analog input terminal (5) and/or the functionality of the controllable digital or analog output terminal (4) can be set.

5. Energy supply device according to claim 4, characterized in that the functionality of the digital or analog input terminal (5) is settable at least to a fixed preset standard input function by means of at least one parameter and/or the functionality of the controllable digital or analog output terminal (4) is settable at least to a fixed preset standard output function by means of at least one parameter.

6. The energy supply device according to claim 5, characterized in that the standard output function is to output a signal to the controllable digital or analog output terminal (4), which signal shows: whether the voltage (U) output by the energy supply device (1) to the terminal (9) for outputting the electrical energy is within an allowable range.

7. The energy supply device according to claim 5, characterized in that the standard input function is to switch on/off the energy supply device (1) or to output energy to a terminal (9) for outputting the electrical energy in a remotely controllable manner via the digital or analog input terminal (5).

8. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication unit (3) is configured as a replaceable communication module (30) which can be plugged onto the energy supply device (1) by means of an electrical plug connection (31).

9. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical energy supply device is configured as a network device and/or as an uninterrupted current supply device.

10. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical energy supply device is configured as a network device of an industrial controller.

11. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical energy supply device is configured as a network device of a memory-programmable control apparatus.

12. The energy supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical energy supply device is configured as a switching network device.